Jammu, May 14 -- The border district of Poonch bore the maximum brunt of heavy Pakistani shelling in retaliation to India's Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025.
The intense cross-border artillery and mortar fire left a trail of destruction, claiming 13 civilian lives, including four minors, and causing extensive damage to residential buildings, religious sites, and public infrastructure. The shelling began around 1 a.m. on May 7, shortly after India executed precision strikes on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu-Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Pakistani forces targeted civilian areas across Poonch, including Balakote, Mendhar, Mankote, Krishna Ghati, ...